Bacteria, fungi, and slime control in cooling water and evaporative cooling systems, reverse osmosis and ultra filtration systems.

Perasan products can be used for an endless number of different deodorizing, disinfecting, and oxidizing needs. A full list of EPA- and FDA-regulated uses for which each product is registered appears on the label for the respective product. You can find these labels here.

Are Perasan products organic and approved for organic production?

Yes. The National Organic Program (7 CFR 205) specifically allows peracetic acid formulations for use in organic production. Federally, this is the only certification that is required for the product to be used in organic product, but we also have our BioSide HS-15% peracetic acid product listed with OMRI. You can view the certificates from the links on the respective product pages BioSide HS-15% and Perasan A.

What is the shelf-life for Perasan products?

When products are registered with the EPA, they must undergo a one year storage stability study under non-climate controlled conditions. If after one year they fall more than 5% below the nominal active ingredient concentration, they are required to have a statement on the label to the effect of “This product degrades with time. Test product regularly and adjust dosing as necessary.” Perasan A, Perasan MP-2, and BioSide HS-15% have all passed the one year storage stability test with the peracetic acid concentration well within spec, when stored as recommended on the label in warehouse conditions. Of the products listed at the top of the page, only Reflex has less than a one-year shelf life. Improper storage (excessive sunlight or heat) may shorten this period.

However, even after a year, the product is likely still quite usable. As the level of active ingredient degrades with time, the rate of product addition can be increased according to test results to maintain the desired residual in the application.

Why is Perasan available in different concentrations?

The products have similar label uses and oftentimes either can be used for certain tasks. However, Perasan A is preferred for hard surface sanitation, while BioSide HS-15% is preferred as an antimicrobial in produce processing due to its lower level of peroxide. Additionally, Perasan A is preferred from a worker exposure standpoint, while BioSide HS-15% is more concentrated and thus more economical to ship in large volumes. Perasan MP-2 has an even further reduced level of peroxide, for use on meat and poultry.

Do peracetic acid products have an odor?

Yes – peracetic acid products have a pungent odor of vinegar. When used below 500 ppm, there is only a faint (if any) vinegar smell.

Do peracetic acid products produce halogenated or toxic by-products?

Absolutely not. In the environment, Perasan products degrade to carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water, and contribute no additional conductivity to the system.

Why are the storage containers vented?

Perasan products have a shelf life of over one year when stored in their original container. The gradual loss of activity is accompanied by the generation of oxygen gas that would build up in the headspace and pressurize the container if it was not vented to the atmosphere.

Are Peracetic acid products affected by ultra violet (UV) light?

Unlike sodium hypochlorite bleach and other halogenated products, Perasan does not lose activity on exposure to UV light. However, containers should be shielded from direct sunlight to avoid build-up of heat. A cool, dry, well ventilated environment is recommended for storage of Perasan products.

What containers should be used to store peracetic acid products?

Storage in the original high density polyethylene container is recommended. When transfers are necessary, the transfer containers should be made of the same material or high quality stainless steel. Do not contact with any other metal (e.g. brass, copper, galvanized, aluminum, mild steel) as these are readily corroded and the metal ions released can cause accelerated decomposition of Perasan products.

What kind of personal protective equipment do I need to wear when handling peracetic acid products?

Chemically resistant gloves such as neoprene or vinyl. Goggles, safety glasses or face shield will protect from accidental splashing. Most common accidents or problems are eye protection issues. Always protect your eyes!

What is the impact of peracetic acid products on the environment?

Perasan products are environmentally friendly. The short half life means that PAA is not persistent and rarely needs to be neutralized prior to discharge. No additional conductivity is introduced to the receiving waters. The results of a large aquatic toxic toxicity study (available on this web site) demonstrate Perasan is far less toxic to marine and fresh water organisms than alternative disinfection chemistries. If spilled or applied to soil, PAA decays in a few minutes with no lasting impact on the soil quality. The ultimate end result is carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water.

Perasan products are Kosher approved (including Passover). The NSF has approved Perasan products for washing fruit and vegetables without a final rinse, and has approved the use of these products with potable water for continuous or intermittent use for pretreatment of RO and UF membranes. The National Organic Program recognizes Perasan products as organic. Other uses of Perasan have been approved by the FDA under 21 CFR 173.315, 21 CFR 173.370, and 21 CFR 178.1010.

Application Information

How are Perasan products fed?

Diaphragm pumps with Teflon diaphragms and polypropylene, Teflon or Kynar materials and degassing heads are recommended for feeding Perasan products. Only use gaskets and “O” rings made of gore-tex, Teflon or EPDM. Piping materials for the concentrated product should be Teflon or teflon-lined. Always pump the product from the top of the container using a dip tube or foot valve. If using totes, never draw product from the drain valve as this could lead to unwanted siphoning or excessive product loss if leakage occurs. Perasan products can also be conveniently metered using proportioning pumps/injectors such as Dosatrons or Dosmatics or eductors made of compatible materials of construction, such as those made by Mazzei. Peristaltic pumps are not recommended because of frequent squeeze tube failure with most elastomers, though Stenner pumps has shown decent success with Santoprene tubes under lower pressure (~20-40 psi).

We receive many questions about using polyethylene tubing and its potential use. Although high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is compatible with the product, exposure to UV light (such as from outdoor use) will embrittle the plastic and cause failure within a few months. For this reason we only recommend using HDPE indoors.

Where should Perasan products be introduced to the system?

Perasan products may be fed to either the system water or the make-up water at an area of good mixing to promote rapid dispersion. The products may be introduced continuously or intermittently depending upon the needs of the end user.

What dosage of peracetic acid should I use in my application?

For all applications that are EPA or FDA regulated, appropriate dosages are listed on the product label. In addition, dosages for a number of other tasks are given on these labels. If after consulting the product label you cannot determine an appropriate dosage, give us a call at (209) 581-9576. A copy of all our product labels can be found here.

What is the minimum peracetic acid dosage?

Regulatory authorities only specify a maximum dose. Minimum dose is established by the customer themselves, and is the dose required to meet the plants quality standards.

What if I accidentally exceed the maximum dosage level of peracetic acid in my process?

Maximum levels are established based on a no-rinse use pattern. If the maximum is exceeded, simply rinse the item or surface.

How do I measure the amount of PAA in solution?

An accurate and reliable test kit made specifically for Perasan products is available through Masters Company. The test kit will not give reliable results for competitor’s peracetic acid-hydrogen peroxide formulations without a conversion factor. For low concentrations of PAA such as in cooling water, a patented modified colorimetric (DPD) method (US Patent #7,651,860) can be used. More information on these different test methods as well as ordering information can be found on the on the “PAA Basics” page here.

Can ORP analyzers be used with Perasan products?

Yes, Perasan products are analogous to halogenated compounds in that they will increase the ORP of the system. Theoretically, an ORP increase of 30 mV corresponds to a 10-fold increase in the PAA concentration. However, this is rarely the case in practice, so when using ORP it is recommended that the PAA residual is periodically monitored using one of the test kit methods to establish the ORP correlation.

How does the compatibility of Perasan products with scale and corrosion inhibitors compare with that of halogenated products?

Perasan products are far less reactive to common phosphonate and polymeric scale and corrosion inhibitors than halogen chemicals. Perasan products have no impact on tolyltriazole and are actually stabilized to chemical degradation by a variety of acrylate and maleate polymer scale and corrosion inhibitors.

How effective are Perasan products?

A vast amount of efficacy data, much of it available on this web site, has proven PAA to be a broad spectrum microbiocide. Efficacy data is available on this web site and new data has been submitted to the EPA in order to support new registrations. Perasan products must be used according to label directions for full performance benefits.

Will Perasan products be effective against my specific target organism?

Peracetic acid is a non-specific, broad-spectrum biocide. It works by oxidizing and destroying cell membranes and other organic components required for microorganism survival. Some organisms are hardier than others and will require higher concentrations or longer contact times (such as viruses), but no particular microorganism is resistant to peracetic acid. Additionally, environmental factors play a role – cleaner water will promote a better kill, and planktonic bacteria (bacteria floating in solution) are much more susceptible than sessile bacteria (bacteria on a surface).

For many common food organisms and situations, we have done lab studies and/or have industry experience to suggest efficacy and dosages. For unusual situations or for more exotic organisms, either lab or field testing under the actual expected conditions can determine an appropriate application regimen.

Are perasan products suitable for slime control and biofilm removal?

Most certainly. The organic nature of the peracetic acid molecule allows it to penetrate the polysaccharide slime layers harboring bacteria to destroy them. Additionally, the effervescing action of oxygen bubbles released from hydrogen peroxide (scrubbing bubbles) helps to dislodge troublesome slimes from surfaces.

Can I use an approved non-oxidizing biocide in conjunction with Perasan products?

This is not recommended for economical reasons. Perasan products were developed to be stand-alone biocontrol agents. Some other companies advocate using non-oxidizing biocides in conjunction with Perasan-type products, but the economic benefits are questionable.

Do Perasan products remain effective in the presence of ammonia, organic nitrogen, and sulfides?

Unlike chlorinated chemicals, PAA does not react with ammonia and is not compromised by organic nitrogen. The high amounts of hydrogen peroxide in Perasan products rapidly oxidize sulfides to sulfur or sulfate depending upon system pH.

What is the half-life of PAA in water?

This is highly dependent on the water quality of the system. In ordinary tap water of moderate hardness and low chemical demand, the half life of PAA has been measured to be between 8-30 hours. For recirculating cooling water with elevated cycles of concentrations and higher pH values, half lives of between 5-10 hours have been measured. PAA is highly unstable in seawater and has a half life of 12- 30 minutes.

Contact Info

Latest News

26Jul.18

Enviro Tech is pleased to announce that our Modesto, CA and Helena, AR facilities have upgraded from Level 2 to Level 3 SQF Certification. Enviro Tech is the first and only SQF Certified peracetic acid manufacturer in the nation. It has always been Enviro Tech’s goal to produce the highest quality products and Level 3 SQF Read More

16Jan.18

Press Release 011618 Enviro Tech Chemical Services, Inc. today announced that the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District in Denver, CO has begun disinfecting their wastewater effluent with Enviro Tech’s peracetic acid (PAA) product called Peragreen® WW (15% PAA) as a full-scale demonstration. This new bulk delivery and dosing system at the North and South Plant with a Read More

03Jan.18

Enviro Tech is pleased to announce the approval for a new Food Contact Notification (FCN) 1806 for use in poultry processing up to 2000 ppm active peracetic acid. Please contact your Enviro Tech sales representative for more information.

15May.17

Enviro Tech is pleased to announce the recent approval for a new Food Contact Notification (FCN) for use in meat and produce processing. FCN 1738 allows for the use of Enviro Tech’s peracetic acid products on meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc) up to 1200 ppm active peracetic acid and on fruits and vegetables up to 500 Read More

16Jan.17

WaterWorld Magazine recently published a wastewater trial at Lexington Water Systems in Tennessee where Enviro Tech’s Peragreen 22WW (22% peracetic acid) product was used as an alternative to chlorine disinfection. The results of the trial demonstrated that peracetic acid is an effective alternative to chlorine disinfection without the concern of forming potentially hazardous disinfection byproducts. Click Read More

30Dec.16

Click here to view our recent publication in Water World Magazine.

13Jul.16

Enviro Tech Chemical Services recently received the first Food Contact Notification (FCN 1654) for the use of our peracetic acid formulation in marinades applied to or injected into processed or unprocessed, cooked or uncooked whole or cut poultry as well as processed and pre-formed meat and poultry products.

31Mar.15

Opening of Enviro Tech’s New Helena, Arkansas facility. Read about it here.

06Mar.14

Enviro Tech has been granted FCN#1384 for the Coronis product. Effective March 6, 2014, Coronis can be used at up to 400 ppm on whole or cut meat products, 1000 ppm on whole or cut poultry products, 2000 ppm in poultry post-chiller or dip tanks prior to air chillers, and 350 ppm on fruits and vegetables.

01Oct.13

Enviro Tech’s patent for on-site generation of peracetic acid has been awarded (US# 8,546,449 B2), and can be read here. Enviro Tech will be employing this technology in our product Coronis.

29Jul.13

Enviro Tech has developed a new method for testing low levels of quaternary ammonia compounds, and has employed this method for a small study of the application of these types of compounds in the poultry industry. See a demonstration video here, and read the accompanying report here.

27Sep.12

Enviro Tech’s latest patent applications have been published! The first is regarding the on-site production of PAA (US20120245228) and the second is on the use of PAA in poultry chillers to increase yield (US20120244261).

20Jul.12

Enviro Tech announces plans for $4 million expansion at Helena Harbor in eastern Arkansas, and subsequent creation of 40 jobs. Read More

18Feb.10

FDA Food Contact Notification 944 awarded to Enviro Tech Chemical Services, allowing the use of a new bromine-based antimicrobial for meat and poultry Read More